Objectives
This course aims to improve awareness of the critical contribution of the human factor to manufacturing and services industries, as well as in business and commerce. It is now increasingly recognised that the vital factor in successful products, system quality and performance is the ‘human’ factor. By ‘designing for people’ in terms of comfort, health, safety and satisfaction, for both consumer and employee, companies are able to ensure higher levels of effectiveness and reliability. By neglecting the human factor and ergonomics, companies are likely to experience major reliability failures, accidents, labour relations problems and unsuccessful introductions of technology. By studying on the MSc in Human Factors, you will graduate with a postgraduate qualification that provides the necessary skills to address these issues in the design of products, jobs, workplaces and systems.
Course description
Key facts
-This course is accredited as the educational qualification for Membership of the Ergonomics Society.
-After completing the MSc in Human Factors, you will find that there are opportunities to continue your research within the School through an extensive PhD programme.
-The School also offers an MSc and Postgraduate Certificate in Applied Ergonomics, which are available by Distance Learning.
-The School of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering was awarded a Grade 5 in the most recent Research Assessment Exercise.
-We were also given the highest possible rating at the last UK Teaching Quality Assessment
Course Content
The modules on this course are designed to lead from the theoretical basis of each topic to the practical application of that knowledge.
The course includes ten core compulsory modules taken over the autumn and spring semesters. The modules are listed below:
-Human Centred Systems Design
-Physical Stresses at Work
-Cognitive Ergonomics
-Work Organisation
-Ergonomics of the Working Environment
-Studying Human Performance
-Safety and Human Reliability
-Human / Computer Systems
-Advanced Methods in Human Factors
-Reviews in Human Factors
You will also have the option to study two elective modules in areas such as Occupational Psychology, IT, Engineering or Management, depending on your interests and career aspirations.
Please note that all module details are subject to change.
Over the summer period towards the end of this course, you will undertake an individual project, which is intended to help you integrate your knowledge, methodology and practical skills in an area that reflects your interests. You are actively encouraged to work with an industrial company or one of the School’s research groups to complete this project, which will be assessed through a 20,000-word dissertation.
If your project is successful in advancing knowledge in your chosen area, you will be encouraged to present your findings as conference papers or journal articles.
Course Structure
The MSc in Human Factors can be taken on a full-time basis over 1 year (September to September) or part-time over 2 to 3 years.
You will be expected to complete the ten core modules (totalling 100 credits) and two elective modules (each worth ten credits) before undertaking and completing a three-month individual project (worth 60 credits) during the summer. Your project can be undertaken either within industry or at the University.
Your learning will typically be structured around lectures, seminars, workshops, laboratory practicals and project work.
Modules are generally assessed through formal examinations, essays, laboratory reports, project reports and other assignments
